Participants in the Houston County High School Beta Club's 5K for Muscular Dystrophy not only got to run, but take part in some fun activities before the run.(Photo: Jamie Dexter/The Stewart Houston Times)

ERIN, Tenn. — Saturday was a perfect day for a run, and that’s one reason why this year’s 5K for Muscular Dystrophy, hosted by the Houston County High School Beta Club, more than doubled the number of runners from last year.

“We definitely had more than last year, which means we made progress,” said Stephanie Chance, vice president of the club. “It felt great seeing everyone come together.”

Students and runners at Betsy Ligon Park started the morning by registering, picking up a colorful tie-dyed T-shirt and taking part in some of the fun festivities going on before the race.

Some students played a few rounds of corn hole, while others turned up some music and used Zumba for their pre-run warmup.

Chance’s parents and grandparents showed up to support her and the cause, and her mother, Kelly Irons, decided to take part in the run despite recent foot surgery.

“If I can come out and do it, everyone else can, too,” Irons said, adding that includes her husband, Loren, whom she “dragged” out to the event to watch over her with her injury.

He even donned the colorful T-shirt, even though he said it wasn’t really his style.

“It’s a pretty neat thing to have three generations of my family helping support a cause through an event that I help set up,” Chance said. “It makes me feel like we’re actually making something happen, even though we are teenagers.”

Chance got her grandmother, Rosalie Casey, to break out some dance moves with her during Zumba, while her grandfather, Wallace, opted to hang out on the sidelines and sneak a few pieces of candy he had stashed in his coat pocket.

Participants in the Houston County High School Beta Club's 5K for Muscular Dystrophy not only got to run, but take part in some fun activities before the run.(Photo: Jamie Dexter/The Stewart Houston Times)

“That was a pretty cool memory that I won’t forget,” Chance said about dancing with her grandmother. “It’s heartwarming to see her get out and do fun things like that.”

Runners warmed up, and soon the race kicked off with everyone making their way through the park and beyond. At the end, awards went to Karlie Medders as youngest runner, Wallace Casey as oldest runner, Stefanie Medders as female winner and Brad Averitt as male winner.

Chance will be graduating this year, so this will be her last year being officially involved with the event as a Beta Club student, but she said with the increasing participation, she thinks the event will continue and grow.

“I do believe that we have hit a sweet spot with this event, and that it will stay an annual thing,” Chance said. “I hope I can make it back and help where I can with the 5K in the future.”

Houston County reporter Jamie Dexter can be reached at 931-217-1827 or on Twitter @SH_JamieDexter.